Day 2 at Keeneland features a stakes trio that leads into my best bet on the card in the Race 10 finale. Feels like a natural place to attack the late pick 4 with a single on the back end. When you consider the feast-or-famine wild history of the Ashland Stakes (Race 9) over the past decade, anything goes – literally. And we’ll play it as such.
Here’s how I see it after scratches.
Race 7
Tons of singles will start here with #2 Colloquial after a massive speed figure. If he bounces, #8 Rolando is the ‘other’ Vekoma in the field to watch (sire was 5-9 with his offspring at Keeneland last year on dirt). Rolando’s form is excellent, he’s high-class witnessed by his effort vs. Blue Grass favorite River Thames over a mile and should get a perfect outside trip under Irad Ortiz. The ticket blows up if we can beat the chalk.
Race 8
Not a lot of soft turf experience or pedigrees with the 3-year-olds in the Transylvania Stakes, so get some coverage. #2 Reagan’s Wit was a good second last out to a high-class colt Zulu Kingdom who would be favored. The nod. Including #7 Test Score, #8 Scipio, #1 Chasing Liberty, #9 Tom’s Magic, #11 Mi Bago for depth.
Race 9
Top pick #4 Muhimma (pictured) didn’t come back as strongly as 3 as I thought she would, but she was beaten by next-out winners of the Fantasy and Gulfstream Park Oaks when third. She’s still the one to beat in an Ashland lacking a superstar, but this feels like one of the crazy outcomes is possible in a race with 20-1, 22-1, 30-1 and 52-1 winners in recent years. Last year it was “only” 9-1.
Race 10
In a race devoid of real sprint pressure, #11 Golden Irish should be faster than these and get a great trip from an outside draw with a long run to the turn.
The Pick 4 Ticket:
8 with 2,7,8,1,9,11 w/ ALL w/ 11 = $24 for 50 cents
**Don’t forget the $39K pick 6 carryover begins in Race 5. #11 Unwavering Trust should be a very strong and short-priced favorite to start the sequence. Race 6 is off the turf and reduced by scratches. #2 Georgie W and #8 This is Uscar may be enough to advance.**
.svg){kind=logo}
